We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

Chapter 1025 Trip to Yunmeng Mountain (5)

Even after that war, which cost countless lives, ended, I still stand on this land.

Above me is the starry sky of this world, not the bright moon of my hometown.

There was no miracle, nothing changed except for hundreds of thousands more innocent souls on this land, and an even more devastated country.

My last shred of obsession dissipated along with the overwhelming stench of blood.

I suddenly felt an unprecedented emptiness, and I was completely exhausted.

Looking back on my life, I am suddenly surprised to find that I am nearly eighty years old.

Even if I could go back now, back to the motherland I've been longing for day and night, what could I possibly do?

Can an old, wandering soul from another world still contribute to her development?

I'm afraid we're already struggling to even understand that rapidly evolving new world.

And so, I let it go.

To have no regrets is too much of a luxury; my sins are not worthy of being lessened by regret.

With that obsession gone, the fire that had consumed most of my life and ultimately destroyed many innocent people was finally extinguished.

I just... let it go.

Let go of the longing to return home, the delusions of mission, and the attachment to everything from the past life.

Like a long and absurd play finally coming to an end, the actors are tired and it's time to remove their makeup.

My disciples have different personalities, but they are all excellent children.

Among them, Xu Jiezi is the most peaceful and calm, neither impulsive nor easily swayed, and has the demeanor of an ancient virtuous person.

I feel most at ease entrusting the affairs of Yunmeng Mountain to him.

As for my other disciples, I taught them different skills according to their talents and temperaments, so that they could make a living in this world and not suffer hardship.

There are only three types of people who can see this letter.

If I were your disciple:

This shows that you have upheld the last line of conduct as a teacher, and your moral character is sufficiently cultivated.

The letter describes my true and complete life, including both my glory and my sins.

You only need to know this; there's no need to praise it, much less try to correct or make amends.

Let bygones be bygones.

After reading the letter, burn it to ashes, leaving no trace. Do not let these old stories disturb the tranquility of Yunmeng Mountain and your Daoist heart.

To be able to peacefully pass on knowledge and benefit the world is the greatest comfort for a teacher.

If it is someone I am destined to meet, they are not from my hometown:

You might be able to crack the password, but it's just luck.

Just treat this letter as the ramblings of a mad old man, or a bizarre story.

Do not delve into it, and do not try to take advantage of anything I left behind.

The road I've walked leads to a precipice; the fire I've lit consumes living beings.

Playing with fire is no exaggeration.

Turn around and leave, go live your own life.

Finally, if you are my true fellow townsman, of the same blood as me, and still harbor the same ambitions as me:

Well then, comrade, please allow me to address you in this way one more time.

I left a hidden compartment under this desk, and the method to open it is the same as the password for the cave door.

Inside are two things I prepared for you, and for our shared ideals.

They might help you avoid some detours, or at least give you the power to make changes faster.

But precisely because of this, they are also incredibly dangerous.

Be careful, be careful, be very careful!

My lesson is still fresh in my mind; the blood is not yet dry.

Changing the world is not something that can be achieved with just passion and a few powerful tools.

It requires a profound understanding of complex realities, extraordinary patience and wisdom, and constant vigilance against the alienation of people's hearts by power and knowledge.

Don't let your ideals blind you and turn you into the very thing you once hated.

Do not let the pursuit of distant, grand goals cause you to neglect the vibrant lives right beneath your feet.

I urge you to strive harder.

Do not repeat my mistakes.

Wang Yuanshan's last words.

The letter ends abruptly there.

There was no date, no further instructions, as if everything had been said, leaving only a silent void.

Li Che took a deep breath, realizing that he had read about Wang Yuanshan's entire life in the short time it takes to burn a few incense sticks.

If you ask him what he thinks... you can only say he is overwhelmed with emotion and has no words to express it.

He needs a considerable amount of time to reflect on and interpret this letter; Wang Yuanshan's experience has been a profound warning to him.

But now, there are more important things to do.

Following the instructions in the letter, Li Che bent down to examine the floor beneath the desk.

There were no obvious gaps in the floor, but after feeling around with his fingertips for a while, he found a hidden nine-square grid.

Then, Li Che pressed the buttons one by one in order, varying the pressure.

With a very slight 'click' sound, a seemingly solid wooden board sprang open, revealing a small but deep hidden compartment.

Li Che couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking how ingenious this predecessor's mechanical skills were; he must have been a scholar with a background in physics.

Based on what was said in the previous letter, Wang Yuanshan's work was also confidential, and he even refused to tell those who came after him after his time travel.

This suggests that the project this bigwig is in charge of must be extraordinary; it's not aerospace, but rather a nuclear bomb.

Li Che couldn't help but feel a little regretful. If this big shot were still alive, it would be so much better. With such a powerful figure backing him up, Daqing would have entered the Industrial Revolution very quickly.

There was nothing else in the hidden compartment except two well-preserved booklets carefully wrapped in oiled paper.

Li Che took it out and brushed off the little dust on it.

He glanced at Hu Qiang, who immediately turned his head away, indicating that he was not peeking.

Seeing the guy's silly look, Li Che laughed in exasperation: "I told you to move the lamp closer, what's the use of turning your head away? Can you even read?"

Hu Qiang scratched his head before coming closer.

Then, with Hu Qiang holding a steady beam of light, Li Che could see their features clearly.

The covers of the two booklets were made of sturdy dark blue coarse cloth, without any fancy patterns, and the titles were written in neat and strong font.

He picked up the first book and looked at the title—"A Record of the Secret Treasury of the Huan Family at the End of the Reign."

Li Che's heart skipped a beat. He opened the book and looked at it carefully, only to find a series of records that were categorized and extremely detailed.

In a certain prefecture and county, a certain clan and family owns, in what locations, what villas, cellars, and estates; how much gold and silver, how much grain and fodder, and how much privately minted weaponry and armor are hidden there; what are the quirks, weaknesses, and secrets of the core members of the clan; with whom do they collude in the imperial court, and what are the channels for transferring their benefits...?

Everything, big or small.

The timeline mainly focuses on the previous dynasty, especially the turbulent period before and after Wang Yuanshan instigated the border rebellion.

This was clearly the result of his long-term collection, verification, and organization of information using the information network of Yunmeng Mountain.

This was a black ledger that was enough to uproot many powerful families at the time.

As Li Che watched, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Most of the prominent families recorded here are still alive today.

In other words, this black ledger would still be useful today.